Greg Tufaro's GMC football Week 8 predictions and analysis

FRIDAY

Bishop Ahr (2-5) at Asbury Park (3-3), 6 p.m.: The Blue Bishops, who have already defeated two Blue Division schools (Metuchen and Dunellen), have been solid against the run all season. Asbury Park’s defense will face the gifted backfield tandem of Reminiss Funderburk and Josh Minick, which had success on the ground in an Oct. 14 win against Metuchen. The Blue Bishops stymied Dunellen’s single-wing in a 47-8 victory last weekend. Prediction: Asbury Park 28-12.

Metuchen (1-5) at Dunellen (2-4), 7 p.m.: The Bulldogs snapped a five-game losing streak with an impressive 9-3 overtime victory against Keyport, which defeated Dunellen 39-20 the previous week. Jaden Rojas rushed for 79 yards, scored the winning touchdown and recorded 10 tackles against Keyport. Metuchen quarterback Will Hronich has completed 58 of 116 passes for 672 yards. After posting a 26-20 overtime victory over Bishop Ahr, which blanked Metuchen 18-0 a week later, Dunellen has dropped two straight to Shore Conference foes. Prediction: Metuchen 14-13.

Colonia (5-2) at J.F. Kennedy (1-6), 7 p.m.: The injury-riddled Mustangs’ record does not reflect the team’s resiliency and persistence. A once-promising season that commenced with an overtime victory over Red Bank has resulted in six consecutive losses with two of those defeats in overtime. Colonia, meanwhile, has rebounded from consecutive losses to undefeated St. Joseph and unbeaten Red Bank Catholic to win three straight. Luke Pero (905 rushing yards) looks to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season. Quarterback Taj-Calvin Johnson has passed for 624 yards. Prediction: Colonia 27-7.

Point Pleasant Beach (4-3) at Highland Park (0-7), 7 p.m.: The Garnett Gulls snapped a three-game losing streak with an 11-0 victory over Shore Regional. Highland Park, which continues to compete with just 17 healthy players, has scored 26 points in its last two games, equaling the total it amassed in its first four games combined. Prediction: Point Pleasant Beach 32-8.

Woodbridge (2-5) at J.P. Stevens (1-5), 7 p.m.: Woodbridge has the seventh most power points in North 2 Group IV and will likely secure a playoff berth with a victory. The combination of a win over J.P. Stevens and an Orange loss to Newark Central likely means the Barrons will earn at least the seventh seed in the section. The only way the Barrons may be eliminated from playoff contention is if they lose to J.P. Stevens, Orange defeats Newark Central and Mendham defeats West Morris. The Hawks have dropped three straight. J.P. Stevens quarterback Joey Young has passed for 671 yards and rushed for 342 yards. Prediction: Woodbridge 19-18.

Howell (6-1) at New Brunswick (1-6), 7 p.m.: This game will feature contrasting offensive styles. New Brunswick likes to keep it on the ground with running back Dylan Johnson, who has carried 117 times for 825 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Eddie Morales, meanwhile, has completed 88 of 127 passes for 1,333 yards and 17 touchdowns. Howell’s lone loss is to undefeated Manalapan. New Brunswick has dropped three straight. Prediction: Howell 30-14.

St. Joseph (7-0) at Carteret (4-2), 7 p.m.: The Falcons will clinch their second consecutive White Division championship with a victory. Quarterback Paul Cocozziello leads St. Joseph with 1,038 passing yards, while running back Manny Resto has amassed 824 rushing yards. After consecutive losses to North Brunswick and Colonia, Carteret has rebounded to win two straight, defeating Woodbridge and South Plainfield. Quarterback Zamar Brake (971 passing yards) and running back James Henderson (426 rushing yards) pace the Ramblers. Prediction: St. Joseph 21-12.

South Brunswick (5-1) at Brick Memorial (6-1), 7 p.m.: This meeting between two stellar triple-option teams promises to be among the weekend’s best. Brick Memorial operates out of the flex bone, from which running back Tony Thorpe has amassed 1,044 yards and 11 touchdowns. Quarterback Tyler Sindel has kept opponents honest with 263 passing yards. Slotback Blaine Netterman has 603 yards from scrimmage. Grant McKelvey (74) and Alex Vonderlinden (51) are Brick Memorial’s leading tacklers. South Brunswick, whose only loss is to defending sectional champion Piscataway, has won three straight including last weekend’s 27-14 victory over Sayreville. Brick Memorial rallied from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Sayreville 22-21 in double overtime on Sept. 29. South Brunswick quarterback Felix Quinones, a dual threat, has amassed 933 yards from scrimmage. Penn State University commit Justin Shorter has totaled 579 all-purpose yards. Dylan Kriz (48) and Xavier Cargile (38) are South Brunswick’s leading tacklers. Prediction: South Brunswick 21-20.

East Brunswick (2-4) at Freehold Township (6-1), 7 p.m.: The Patriots had a six-game winning streak snapped in a 37-10 loss to Howell. Freehold Township quarterback Nick Reardon has completed 93 of 168 attempts for 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns in a pass-oriented offense. East Brunswick needs a victory to keep alive its playoff hopes. The Bears counter with a gifted quarterback of their own in James Schuld, who completed 7 of 11 passes for 96 yards and a score and rushed 21 times for 108 yards and four touchdowns in last weekend’s 35-12 victory over Edison. Freehold Township defeated Perth Amboy 14-0 on Oct. 6. Prediction: Freehold Township 19-13.

North Brunswick (4-2) at Perth Amboy (3-3), 7 p.m.: The Panthers, who have never qualified for the postseason since the NJSIAA playoffs commenced in 1974, must win to keep alive their playoff hopes. North Brunswick can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Perth Amboy or a victory over Woodbridge the following week. The Raiders had a bye last week. Running back Myles Bailey has rushed for 197 or more yards in each of North Brunswick’s last three games. Perth Amboy’s Tyler Jack amassed 156 all-purpose yards including 30 return yards, 30 receiving yards, 45 rushing yards and 51 passing yards while throwing two touchdowns and rushing for one in a 21-0 victory over Woodbridge. Prediction: North Brunswick 22-18.

Colts Neck (0-7) at Monroe (1-6), 7 p.m.: Joey Mauriello (606 rushing yards) leads Colts Neck, which has been held to a touchdown or less in four games. Monroe starting signal caller Fritze Frage completed 7 of 12 passes for 131 yards including a 40-yard scoring strike to Mason Shipp in last weekend’s 48-21 loss to Piscataway. He was injured in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Dylan Gorhan, a sophomore, completed 10 of 12 passes for 172 yards and three touchdown for Monroe. He threw scoring strikes of 12, 39 and 40 yards in the fourth quarter. Monroe amassed 309 yards from scrimmage against the defending sectional champions. Prediction: Monroe 22-12.

Jackson Memorial (5-2) at Old Bridge (4-2), 7 p.m.: Since enduring consecutive losses to Brick Township and Central, the Jaguars have reeled off four straight wins, allowing just four touchdowns during the streak. Old Bridge is on a three-game winning streak including an impressive 24-20 victory on the road over previously undefeated Piscataway. Quarterback Anthony Imbimbo completed 5 of 6 passes for 133 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 16 times for 134 yards and a score in a 42-6 win over New Brunswick last weekend. Old Bridge will likely secure a playoff berth in Central Group V with a win. Prediction: Old Bridge 21-17.

Piscataway (5-1) at Manalapan (7-0), 7 p.m.: The teams met twice last year with Piscataway avenging a regular-season loss in the sectional final. Running back Naim Mayfield has accounted for 1,723 of Manalapan’s 2,189 rushing yards. Quarterback Luke Corcione has completed 49 of 81 passes for 816 yards. Piscataway counters with Juwon Jackson (1,052 rushing yards) and Joseph Hatcher (623 passing yards). The Chiefs rebounded from a 24-20 loss to Old Bridge with a 48-21 victory over Monroe last weekend. Manalapan defeated Old Bridge 34-13 on Sept. 23. Prediction: Manalapan 24-20.

SATURDAY

Sayreville (4-3) at Neptune (0-6), 1 p.m.: Limited to 18 points over its first four games, Neptune’s offense has shown signs of life of late with 21 points in each of its last two outings. Sayreville has dropped three of its last four with those losses coming against schools with a combined 16-3 record. The Bombers won last year’s meeting 35-6. Prediction: Sayreville 28-6.

South Hunterdon (1-6) at South River (7-0), 1 p.m.: The Rams appear to have locked up the No. 2 seed for the Central Group II playoffs. Even with a victory over South Hunterdon, South River cannot catch Point Pleasant Boro, which appears to have locked up the top seed. South Hunterdon has been limited to a touchdown or less in four of its losses. South River quarterback Michael DeSantis, MyCentralJersey.com’s reigning Player of the Week, has completed 83 of 117 attempts for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns while throwing just one interception. Prediction: South River 28-7.

Edison (2-4) at Freehold Boro (4-3), 1 p.m.: After a 1-3 start that included a season-opening forfeit loss (for using an ineligible player) to Freehold Township, Freehold Boro has won three straight to keep alive its Central Group IV playoff hopes. The Colonials must win to stay in contention. They are led by quarterback Ashante Worthy, who has passed for 1,269 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns. Edison was eliminated from postseason contention with last weekend’s 35-12 loss to East Brunswick. Prediction: Freehold Boro 27-14.

Raritan (2-4) at Spotswood (4-3), 1 p.m.: After opening the year with three consecutive losses, the Chargers have reeled off four straight wins and must defeat Raritan to keep alive their playoff chances. With a victory Saturday over Raritan, Spotswood, which sits seventh in the Central Group II, should secure a playoff berth. However, Lincoln (2-5) stands to pick up as many as 32 power points simply by playing perennial power St. Peter’s Prep this weekend, meaning that the combination of a Lincoln loss coupled with a Roselle (5-2) win over Bound Brook (6-1) could translate into Spotswood being knocked out of playoff contention. Lincoln has the 10th most power points and Roselle has the eighth most power points in the section. The Chargers have received a boost from Chance Fee since he was moved to quarterback. He rushed 11 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns and completed 3 of 6 passes for 44 yards in a 30-6 victory over Bishop Ahr last weekend. After dropping its first three games, Raritan has won two of its last three. Prediction: Spotswood 21-20.